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Transitioning to online learning can be a challenge for many. This page contains tips and ideas to make your online learning experience enjoyable and productive. Explore the areas where you need guidance and see what works for you!

Time Management

In school, success isn't about being smart in class—it's about managing your time well. Juggling classes, social life, and personal stuff can be challenging. Learning to manage your time effectively boosts your grades and makes your college life more enjoyable. Whether you struggle with procrastination or have a lot on your plate, this page has tips to help. These skills aren't crucial for school; they benefit your future career and life. Let's learn more about time management to make the most of your college experience!

Scheduling

Set up a semester schedule. Include all academic deadlines and personal events in a calendar and update it regularly.

Prioritizing

Order all upcoming tasks for your day and week based on urgency and importance to allocate your time effectively.

Detail-Oriented

 Break down your week into tasks like classes, study sessions, and personal commitments.

 Watch this short video for more time management tips.

Transcript

 

Procrastination

Procrastination isn't a sign of laziness; it's a habit developed as a way to relieve stress. For online students, where self-discipline is crucial, breaking this habit is essential for success. Here's how you can do it:

1. Acknowledge Your Stress

Recognize when you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed about an assignment, project, or studying. Understand that this stress is triggering your urge to procrastinate.

2. Interrupt the Procrastination Habit with a Countdown

Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to disrupt your automatic response of avoidance. Counting down engages your brain's prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and action.

3. Make a Conscious Choice to Act

After the countdown, deliberately choose not to engage in distracting activities (like checking social media or watching videos). Decide to focus on the task at hand instead.

4. Start Working for Just Five Minutes

Commit to working on your task for at least five minutes. Beginning is often the hardest part; once you start, you're likely to keep going.

 

Remember: Breaking the procrastination habit takes practice, but by consistently applying these steps, you'll improve your productivity and reduce stress in your academic life.

Watch this video to give you ideas on how to overcome procrastination.

Transcript

 

Use the tool below to help you break the habit of procrastination!

 

Staying Connected

It can be easy to feel disconnected from others in an online course. Many people are working to make this course enjoyable and want to help you however they can. This section will give you tips on how to stay connected in an online course.

Ways to build connections:

  1. Introduce yourself to your instructor and TA (if you have one) via email in the first week.
  2. Attend review sessions and keep an eye on announcements.
  3. Reach out to classmates and organize study groups for a better learning experience and to establish connections.

Walk through this example of how to email a professor or teacher in Canvas to help you get started.

Engaging with the Content

To stay engaged during your online course and avoid zoning out from computer fatigue, try these tips: 

  1. Use a study strategy. Below are a few to help you get started and determine what works best.
  2. Make the content more engaging using text-to-audio readers, taking physical notes, or reading aloud.
  3. Stay active by taking short walks to clear your mind.
  4. Utilize recommended tools and resources your instructors and TAs provide, such as videos or interactive websites.

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that Francesco Cirillo developed in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break your study time into intervals - usually 25 minutes in length - separated by short breaks. Each interval is called a Pomodoro (the name comes from the Italian word for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Francesco used as a university student). With this technique as a study method, the purpose is to focus on homework for 25 minutes undistracted, then take a 5-minute break when the timer goes off. This technique can help reduce mental fatigue and improve concentration and productivity.

Steps to a Successful Pomodoro Approach

The Pomodoro Technique has six steps:

  1. Decide on the task to be done.
  2. Set a timer for 25 minutes. This period is called a "Pomodoro." 
  3. Work on the task for the set amount of time. If an unrelated thought comes to your mind or a distraction tempts you, write it down to review later and remain focused for the entire Pomodoro.
  4. End your work when the timer goes off, and make a note of one completed Pomodoro. Then, take a short break (5-10 minutes). 
  5. After three Pomodoro cycles, take a longer break, typically 20-30 minutes. This longer break helps you recover and reset your mental energy.
  6. After the longer break, start a new cycle of Pomodoros until you've finished your tasks. 

If this is a helpful way to set up your study time, consider looking into different Pomodoro apps to help you.

Removing Distractions

Minimizing distractions while working to succeed in an online course is vital. Here are some simple ways to do that:

  1. Organize your physical workspace to enhance focus.
  2. Use apps to mute notifications on your devices during your work sessions.
  3. Choose an environment conducive to concentration, whether public or private, indoors or outdoors, alone or with others. 

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